BATMAN & ROBIN #2

‘Fathers and Sons’ is a phrase that can mean many things in today’s society. It can mean a song by Cat Stevens – it can mean a union of parentage – it can mean a sign of trouble – and it can mean Batman and Robin too. Just ask Writer: Peter Tomasi; Artist: Patrick
Gleason; and Publisher: DC Comics – especially in November 2011.

THE STORY:

Now he cannot help it, but Bruce Wayne is concerned about
his son, Damien. He is concerned about Damien’s abusive upbringing – he is
concerned about Damien’s stoic temperament – and he is concerned about what
will happen to Damien if he is not around.

Therefore, what so you think that Bruce tries to do about
this, so that he can subdue his fatherly concern? Well, at night, whilst Bruce
and Damien are both garbed as Batman and Robin respectivly, and have just
intercepted a nocturnal ploy involving a gang of gun-smugglers, Bruce
‘commends’ Damien’s reserved actions.

That’s it – ‘commends’ – because his son did not try to kill
someone – Alfred is concerned for Bruce now too.

And I suppose – inadvertently – Alfred should be really?
Because, firstly, when Damien thinks that he is by himself in the Batcave,
Alfred spots him killing a lone Bat. And secondly, just after Bruce buys a Great
Dane for Damien, Bruce is confronted by a man called Morgan – a man who killed
the gun-smugglers – a man who is killing the ‘Batmen’ around the world – and a
man who knows Bruce’s ‘secret’, plus Henri Ducard also.

To be continued...

THE REVIEW:

Off the Bat, please let my just say that I love this comic
book, Batman & Robin. Granted, it is not the best comic book out at the
moment – as I think that there are too many splash pages in this issue for my
liking. But by in large this is a really great read, and I am honestly enjoying
the direction that this series is presently going in – the fatherly direction.

Well, this type of ‘parental topic’ has never been addressed
in a Bat-tile before – except in the cases of Dick’s, Jason’s, and Tim’s ‘ward
/ adoption’ status. Moreover, the way that Bruce is being portrayed – as some sort
of doting father – is an issue that has never been addressed before either.

Now, personally speaking of course, even though this latter factor does feel
marginally ‘off key’ where Bruce is concerned, at the same time it is strangely
refreshing to see Bruce act this way as well – surreal even. In addition to
this, lets not forget to mention the manner in which this present storyline
meanders between this ‘parental topic’, whilst at the same time introducing a
new element into the mix ‘Morgan’ – which is very intriguing indeed.

You see, this ‘Morgan thing’ asks for a number of questions
to be asked where present continuity is concerned, such as: (1) Did ‘Batman
Incorporated’ exist in the DCnU? As Morgan implies that it did. (2) The Henri
Ducard / Morgan / Bruce association, how did this come to be? Morgan is a new
character to my reckoning, and seems to be a device that is going to be used,
to ‘ret-con’ Henri into the DCnU. (3) Doesn’t this Morgan chap look like
Jackson King from Stormwatch to you? Well, he does! And (4) Ace the Bathound,
NOOOOOOOO? Though it would be nice to see this mutt in a mask.

Overall, this issue of Batman and Robin was a good one. The
story by Peter Tomasi was engaging to read, and the art by Patrick Gleeson
(which did on occasion make me want to call this title ‘Splash Page and
Dobbin’) was very manga in tone, and bold in execution.